Fallen Officers

During the early morning hours of June 18, 2007, the Howard County Police Department lost a dedicated officer and friend. Cpl. Wheeler was working a speed enforcement detail on June 16, and was struck by a vehicle he was attempting to stop for a speeding violation.

Cpl. Wheeler was dedicated to the profession. He received a Commendation Certificate at the 2007 Awards Ceremony for his work in alcohol enforcement during the 2006 Merriweather Post Pavilion Concert Season.

During his 6 1/2 year career, Cpl. Wheeler was named Police Officer of the Month on three occassions, recieved a unit citation, and was named one of the agency’s Top DUI Enforcers in 2002. Cpl. Wheeler graduated from the HCPD Special Weapons and tactics school, and served as a member of the Decentralized Team.

Cpl. Wheeler was equally dedicated to his favorite football team, the Oakland raiders. Friends and family remember him best for his infectious laugh and his black and silver painted face and raiders costumes on game days.

On November 2, 1994 Howard County Police Recruit Officer Roger Dale Cassell Jr. collapsed following a training exercise in the police academy, he was twenty-eight years old. Roger was a well respected, enthusiastic police recruit, and the Department had very high expectations for this native son of Howard County.

Recruit Officer Cassell joined the Howard County Department of Police in September 1994 and was on the path to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a police officer. Roger’s interest in law enforcement seemed to be a natural development. His father, Roger Sr. is a sergeant with the Maryland State Police, and his brother, Robert, is a police officer with Howard County.

Roger was a decorated war veteran and received the Army Achievement Medal and Maryland Governor’s Citation for his accomplishments in the Persian Gulf war. He was an avid sports fan and an All County football player in high school.

Roger is best described by an academy classmate as “…one of the most unselfish, loyal and dedicated individuals I have ever met. He loved every aspect of law enforcement and wanted nothing more than to serve the community he loved.”

Howard County Police Patrolman Brightwell, “Randy,” was shot and killed on May 29, 1961. He was gunned down on Fels Lane in Ellicott City during a car stop following an armed robbery. Both suspects were apprehended a short time afterwards. Patrolman Brightwell was thirty-three years-old and the father of two small children

Randy was the first K-9 handler for any county police agency in the State of Maryland, and the first Howard County police officer killed in the line of duty.

Patrolman Brightwell is pictured here with “Prince” his K-9 partner. Prince was working with Patrolman Brightwell when he was killed, but was secured in the police vehicle.

In tribute to the ultimate sacrifice made by Patrolman Brightwell, the police department named its highest commendation, the Medal of Honor, after the slain officer.

Patrolman Brightwell is memoralized in the American Police Hall of Fame and in the Howard County Police Memorial. His badge is displayed on a plaque in the lobby of police headquarters. Patrolman Brightwell was 33 years old.

Howard County Sheriff’s Office LEO Deaths

Howard County Sheriff’s Deputy Frank John Miller suffered a fatal heart attack on June 7, 1946 after struggling with a female prisoner. He was attempting to secure the prisoner in the vehicle when she resisted. After securing her he began to drive away but then suffered the heart attack.

Deputy Miller had been with the agency for 29 years and was survived by his wife and ten children. Deputy Miller was 65 years old.

On November 7, 1924 Howard County Constable Weber fell from a vehicle that sped off as he was standing on the running board. Constable Weber had been directing illegally parked cars to move along when the driver suddenly accelerated, dragging him along. He eventually fell from the car and fell down a 10-foot embankment. Constable Weber was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries On November 10, 1924.

Constable Weber had been with the agency for nine years and was survived by his wife and seven children. Constable Weber was 48 years old.

Maryland State Police LEO Deaths

On March 29, 1990 Corporal Theodore Wolf Sr. of the Maryland State Police was shot and killed during a traffic stop on I-95 in Jessup, Maryland. Corporal Wolf stopped a vehicle for speeding and approached the driver to get his license. Unbeknownst to him, the vehicle had just been stolen from Alexandria, Virginia and had not yet been reported.

After Corporal Wolf obtained the driver’s license, he went back to his patrol car to get his summons book. As he did so, the driver approached him, introduced himself as a former police officer, and presented his credentials. Corporal Wolf admitted him to the passenger side of the patrol car as he began to write him a warning for speeding. When the driver saw that he was being issued a warning, he pulled out a gun and shot Corporal Wolf in the jaw. The suspect then stuck the gun in Corporal Wolf’s mouth and fired again, killing him instantly.

The suspect and his passenger grabbed Corporal Wolf’s warning book and fled. They abandoned and burned the car and the book in Baltimore County, and then arranged to return home to New York. They were arrested there after bragging to an informant that they had murdered Corporal Wolf. Both suspects were charged for their roles in the incident and convicted. One suspect has since been paroled, and the other is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Corporal Wolf had served with the agency for 16 years. and was assigned to the Waterloo Barracks “A”, Howard County. He is survived by his wife and three children. Corporal Wolf was 40 years old.

On December 23, 1934 Officer Creeger was killed in a motorcycle accident while on patrol on Sykesville-West Friendship Road in Howard County. His motorcycle struck a patch of ice and he was thrown to the ground.

Officer Creeger had been with the agency for just over three years. Officer Creeger was 27 years old.

On March 3, 1933 Officer 1st Class Imia D. Hubbard was killed when his motorcycle struck a truck tire on Washington Blvd and Savage Street, 50 feet from the Laurel Substation. He was thrown from his motorcycle, over the handlebars and onto his head. He sustained a fractured skull.

Officer 1st Class Hubbard had served with the agency for 2 years and 8 months. Officer 1st Class Hubbard was 27 years old.

On October 1, 1925 Officer Albert E. Cramblitt was in pursuit of a suspected “bootlegger” on Washington Blvd. Officer was operating a 1924 Indian Motorcycle when a truck pulled into his path. Officer Cramblitt struck the truck broadside and died instantly.

Officer Cramblitt was the fifth Maryland Motor vehicle Commission Motorcycle Officer to die in the line of duty and the first law enforcement officer in the State to be buried in uniform with full honors. Officer Cramblitt’s mother had to purchase the uniform Officer Cramblitt was buried in. Officer Cramblitt had served with the agency for just 6 months. Officer Cramblitt was 23 years old.

On September 21, 1921 Officer John W. Jeffrey, a motorcycle officer, succumbed to injuries received after skidding off the roadway during the pursuit of a vehicle. Officer Jeffrey’s patrol included Baltimore and Howard Counties.

Officer Jeffrey had served with the agency for just 2 months.

(Editors Note: We have been unable to confirm which county Officer Jeffrey died in or was officially assigned to. Officer Jeffrey’s name will be stay on this listing until otherwise notified.)